Round-Up: Greer inspires Seagulls to halt slide

Brighton and Hove Albion arrested their drop down the Championship table yesterday, ending their nine-game winless streak with a 2-0 home victory over Barnsley.

Captain Gordon Greer scored in first-half added time, and Ryan Harley struck from a rebound 12 minutes into the second half. Gus Poyet's side had won five of their first six league games, but had not won since, until yesterday. Greer's goal was Brighton's first in five hours and 43 minutes of play. The Seagulls move up to 10th in the Championship table, just two points behind sixth-placed Crystal Palace, while Barnsley are 19th.

Reading recorded their fifth win of the season, beating Birmingham 1-0 through Noel Hunt's goal. Brian McDermott's side have so far failed to replicate the form which took them to last season's play-off final, and yesterday faced a Birmingham team who are combining European and domestic demands with some success this year.

Chris Hughton's side were competitive at the Madejski Stadium yesterday, arguably shading a close game, but it was a substitution for Reading which won the match. Hunt replaced Simon Church with 15 minutes remaining and with his first touch finished Jobi McAnuff's cross.

Two late goals maintained Southampton's five-point advantage over West Ham United at the top of the Championship on Saturday. Saints, playing Coventry City, had taken and lost a two-goal lead but goals from Guly do Prado and Steve de Ridder won the game 4-2. West Ham won 2-0 at Hull, with second-half strikes from Sam Baldock and Jack Collison.

Steve Cotterill was firmly beaten 3-0 on his return to Portsmouth. The new Nottingham Forest manager was back at Fratton Park just three weeks after leaving, but Erik Huseklepp, who Cotterill signed in August, put Portsmouth ahead before Dave Kitson and Huseklepp's second goal completed the victory.

Charlton Athletic extended their lead at the top of League One to five points on Saturday, beating Phil Brown's Preston North End 5-2 at The Valley. Johnnie Jackson scored twice and Bradley Wright-Phillips hit his 13th league goal of the season, making him the most prolific player in the top four divisions.